Invasions of leaf beetles can cause tremendous economic consequences because some of
these insects become major pests in invaded territories. We present the first inventory
of alien Chrysomelidae of European Russia that appeared in the region in the 20th and
21st centuries (9 species) with analysis of the history of their invasions and detailed
maps of distribution. This case study revealed some general tendencies of invasions of
leaf beetles: (1) Recently, a dramatic increase in the rate of Chrysomelidae invasions
is observed, which reflects the increase in international trade of living plants;
(2) Alien leaf beetles can spread quickly, occupying almost all of Europe within
several decades; (3) When the range of some leaf beetle species is quickly expanding,
or when the species has been recorded established somewhere outside the native range,
this species should be regarded as a potential invader worldwide. and (4) Alien leaf
beetles usually occur on alien or cultivated plants, but some become naturalized in
native communities. The specific information was the following. Two species native to
the Mediterranean region, Chrysolina americana (feeds on Rosmarinus and Lavandula) and
Leptomona erythrocephala (feeds on Lotus corniculatus) were recorded in European Russia
for the first time. A polyphagous pest of floriculture Luperomorpha xanthodera native
to China and Korea and a pest of soybeans Medythia nigrobilineata native to east Asia
have been in the region since 2016. A pest of tobacco Epitrix hirtipennis native to
North America has occurred since 2011. A pest of corn Diabrotica virgifera was
intercepted at the border of Russia in 2011 but has not established. Three alien
species have been in the region since the 20th century: Zygogramma suturalis
introduced from North America for control of Ambrosia, Phyllotreta reitteri native
to Afghanistan and Tajikistan and feeding on Lepidium latifolium, and the Colorado
potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata.